News

Broad Creek landing and dock to be stabilized

Erosion along the shore of Broad Creek public dock in Deltaville has cut into the roadbed and required a wooden walkway to be installed between the shore and dock. Later this spring, Middlesex County plans to partner with Virginia Department of Transportation to install rock along the shore to stop erosion.
(Photo by Larry Chowning)

by Larry Chowning

Later this spring, Middlesex County and Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) will do maintenance to the road bed leading to the public landing and dock at Broad Creek in Deltaville.

Middlesex County Planner Dave Kretz reported at the March 4 meeting of the county board of supervisors there is a need for rock or rip-rap to be installed along the edge of the shore.

Kretz said that wave and tidal action has undermined the road bed, and the Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have approved permits for the project. Earlier this winter, county maintenance staff rebuilt a portion of the walkway leading to the main pier, he noted.

Kretz said the cost of the project will be minimal because inmates from the Middle Peninsula Regional Security Center in Saluda will provide the workforce to install “class one” rock that will be provided by VDOT.

“If the road keeps eroding back, it will just keep getting worse and worse,” said Kretz. “We need to fix it soon. Once the weather gets a little bit nicer, I will get together with VDOT and we will get started. It’s not a big job. It spans about 30 feet along the shore.”

The Broad Creek public dock has historically been a primary off-loading location for area watermen. Over the years, Middlesex County has maintained this facility to provide public water access to watermen and to the public.